CIRAD donates vegetable seeds to Dominica

by: Dominica Vibes News - December 10, 2015

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The Centre for Research in regional planning and Development (CIRAD) in Martinique and Guadeloupe has donated over nine thousand five hundred Euros ($‎€9,500.00) worth of vegetable seeds to the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.

The donation of seeds was presented to Technical Officer in the Ministry of Agriculture, Felix Leslie at the Botanic Gardens on Thursday 10 December 2015.

“We have received a quantity of seeds worth approximately nine thousand five hundred Euro’s and this is part of CIRAD’s post Erika Technical support to Dominica which will greatly benefit the vegetable farmers,” Head of the Plant Protection and Quarantine Unit, Ryan Anslem informed.

Anslem thanked the organization for the “very timely donation” which he indicated will help restore vegetable farms that were affected by Tropical Storm Erika.

“We can assure CIRAD that this will go a long way in developing the agricultural sector. I think it will greatly benefit the farmers. Though we will not get vegetables for Christmas but we will have for the carnival season,” Anselm noted.

Meanwhile, Felix Leslie said the seeds received are all grown in Dominica and were requested by farmers after the storm.

“After the passage of Tropical Storm Erika, our farmers reported great loss and we thought it would be advisable and timely to replace what has been lost. So what you see here today is in reference to requests made by the farmers”.

Leslie advised the farmers to use the appropriate technology in production.

“When you look at both yield and corresponding income, it will not be something than can be achieved just like that. Farmers must follow the technology that is recommended. There are recommended practices that must be followed in crop production,” he added.

3 thoughts on “CIRAD donates vegetable seeds to Dominica”

Are the seeds treated with fungicides (known to do damage to soil life/health)? Are any of the seeds GMO with their irreparable consequences for food security/environmental (including human health)? The seed packages shown are Seminis brand – a subsidiary of Monsanto. Is this a gift to liberate/help or enslave/control? Monsanto lists CIRAD as one of its “Middle scientific and academic” connections. (http://www.monsanto.com/…/fr/actualites/pages/liens.aspx) . MoA, are you protecting Dominica’s future — its freedom, food security, agriculture, environmental and personal health — against possibility of this “gift” being a Trojan horse? Please publish list of seeds received and your verification that none are GMO.

Are the seeds treated with fungicides (known to do damage to soil life/health)? Are any of the seeds GMO with their irreparable consequences for food security/environmental (including human health)? The seed packages shown are Seminis brand – a subsidiary of Monsanto. Is this a gift to liberate/help or enslave/control?